Dayton Public Schools explains "right-sizing" benefits

by Shavon Anderson

Dayton Public Schools explains "right-sizing" benefits (WKEF/WRGT)

DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) - Every parents want their kids to have passionate teachers and useful resources in school.

Unfortunately, not all students in Dayton Public Schools are getting the latter. Acting superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lolli talked with families at Edison Elementary on Thursday, giving them information on the district's plan to "right-size." The plan includes closing schools and re-evaluating resources.

"Some of the reasons that we have students go to charter schools is because we don't have those kinds of services for our students," Lolli told Fox 45's Shavon Anderson.

A main issue is consistency.

"Right now, we have seven buildings that serve 7th and 8th graders," she said.

That current format is spreading services too thin.

"For example, it's very important to have a foreign language before you get to high school," Lolli said. "If we have seven places where we're serving 7th and 8th graders, it's almost impossible to find seven Spanish teachers."

The result is that some students get opportunities that others don't. Right-sizing will also be a way to re-structure class size, aiming for no more than a 25:1 student teacher ratio.

"We have to make sure that our students have a fair chance, and aren't one of 31 students in a classroom, when someone down the street is one of 20 students in a classroom," Lolli said.

The district believes the changes will make DPS more competitive with neighboring schools, and attract families back to Dayton.